Preseason Pediatrics: an Interactive Preclinical Curriculum Enhances Knowledge and Skills in Medical Students

Medical students have limited preclinical exposure to pediatrics. We created an optional preclinical curriculum for first-year medical students called "Preseason Pediatrics" (PSP). This 6-month curriculum teaches pediatric-specific knowledge and clinical skills, consisting of monthly resident-led didactic sessions followed by complementary resident-mentored clinical experiences.

Participants completed a survey before and after completion of PSP. Knowledge was assessed with multiple-choice questions pertaining to each topic covered in PSP and perceived skills, with a 5-point Likert scale ranging from not at all (1) to extremely (5) for skills taught. Skill maintenance was assessed with a newborn objective structured clinical exam (OSCE) 6 months after PSP completion in 2016. Students beginning their pediatric clerkship also completed a survey, comparing students who did and did not complete PSP.

From 2014 to 2017, 135 first-year medical students participated. Percent correct scores on pediatric knowledge increased in 4/5 topics covered, and students perceived increases in their pediatric skills in all course domains. 86.8% (n = 92/106) of students reported feeling more prepared for the pediatric clerkship. 94.3% (n = 100/106) would recommend the PSP experience to other students. Third-year students who participated in PSP reported higher comfort with pediatric patients prior to their clerkship.

PSP is a successful novel preclinical program introducing students to pediatrics. We demonstrated that didactics paired with resident-mentored clinical experiences improved pediatric knowledge, clinical-based skills, and perceived clerkship preparedness. Students may academically and professionally benefit from such earlier exposure to pediatrics.